Translated by
Microsoft from Spain
Microsoft from Spain
Product received for free
First of all, I got to explain something: I've worked on this game. I'm the artist that made the logo, the promotional comic and the game's manual artworks and some in-game pixel art. However, I got into the project on a very advanced phase, and I've never been involved in the level design, programming and anything. Which means I could get to enjoy it as much as I would with any other title. That being said:
A Hole New World is an action/adventure platforming that is heavily inspired by Castlevania and Ghosts and Goblins. It has a lot of enemies that you must fight against. Fortunately, its main mechanic will help you from dying when you fall into an abyss. And that's because abysses function as portals that lead you to an alternative world where you play upside down. It isn't always the case, but level design is different in each world, providing different kinds of challenges. You as the player can choose what your favorite path is. It also increases the urge to explore and adds more replay value.
Another thing that makes A Hole New World similar to the games it references is its difficulty. This isn’t an easy game. Sometimes it can turn a little grating, at least for me. I’m not very good at dealing with a screen full of projectiles. But most of the time difficulty is very well adjusted. Level design it’s great and it shows moments of great creativity and sense of rhythm.
My absolute favorite part of the game are the bossfights. Every boss of this game requires a different kind of approach and their movesets are very diverse and showcase interesting and expressive animations. Since you have just a few hearts and you have no way to heal yourself in the middle of these fights, you’re always on the edge of your sit trying to learn their patterns and avoid them properly. And also be careful with their desperation moves.
Another feature of the game I would like to praise is the score. As old classic games did, the music of this game is catchy and very entertaining. Every level song suits its tone perfectly, as well as the cutscenes’ themes do.
The game’s campaign may be short, but every minute played shows great passion for the part of the developer team. Apart from that, you have different game modes such as “boss rush” and “new game plus”. Besides, don’t take anything for granted; there are a lot of secrets and easter eggs that aren’t exactly easy to find, really.
In conclusion, if you want to have lots of fun and face a demanding challenge, don’t hesitate to play it. A Hole new World it’s a parade of interesting ideas and the great talent of its main developers. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.